Corn-harvesting machine.



Patented Aug. 28, |900.

A. STEINER.

CORN HARVESTING MACHINE.

{Application tiled Feb. 28, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

Patentd Aug. 28, |900.

A. STEINER. CORN HARVESTING MACHINE.

Application filed Feb. 28, 1900.)

' 3 Sheets-Sham 2.

(N0 Nudel.)

No. 656,675. Patented Aug. 2a. 1900."

A. STEINER. CUBN HABVESTING MACHINE.

(Application led Feb. 28, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet la.

mmwww Narren AUGUST STEINER, OF HOMEWOOD, ILLINOIS.

CORN-HARVESTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,675, dated August28, 1900.

Application nea rama 28, 1900. serai No. 6,781. (No man.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST STEINER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Homewood, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Corn- IIarvesting Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to corn-harvesting machines, and is designed asan improvement on the constructions set forth and claimed in my PatentsNo. 436,386, dated September 16, 1890, and No. 606,824., dated July5,1898.A

The object of the invention is to simplify and improve the constructionand operation of machines of this class and to render the same moreefficient in operation.`

The invent-ion consists substantially in the construction, combination,location, and arrangement, all as will be more fully `hereinafter setforth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed voutin the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views andreference-signs appearing thereon, Figure l is a broken View in plan,parts in horizontal section, showing a construction embodying theprinciples of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, parts invertical section. Fig. 3 yis a broken view, in vertical section, on theline 3 3, Fig-.1, looking in the direction of the'arrows. Fig. 4 is abroken detail View in perspective of the universal shaft-couplingemployed in connection with my invention. Fig. 5 is a detail view, invertical section, on the line 5 5, Fig. l, looking in the direction ofthe arrows. Fig. 6 is a similar View on the line 6 6, Fig. 3, looking inthe direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 is a detached detail view in sectionshowing the manner of adjusting the snappingfrarne. Fig. 8 is a similarView in perspective of the snapping-frame adjusting-block. Fig. 9- is albroken detail View in section showing the manner of hinging thesnappingframe for vertical adjustment. Fig. lO isa detail view of thesnapping-rolls, showing the snappngrib. Fig. 1l is a broken detail viewin plan showing the wiper for preventing choking up of thesnapper-rolls.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

ear-conveying devices.

`rod L.

Reference-sign Adesignates the main frame of the machine, in which isjournaled the main shaft B. Upon this shaft are mounted the traction ormaster wheels C, which support the machine and through the rotation ofwhich motion is imparted to the various operative parts of theapparatus.

Reference-'sign D designates what I shall term the snapping-frame, andinA this frame are jonrnaled the snapping-rolls E F, presently to bemore fully described and eX- plained, and also the gathering anddetached l The snapping-frame D is suitably sleeved at its rear end forrocking movement about a shaft G, which shaft is journaled in the mainframe, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The journalbearing of shaft G in themain frame is provided with a hub (indicated at H) upon which is sleevedthe side bar of the snappingframe D, and at its front end thesnapping-frame is supported by an angle-block J, suitably bolted orotherwise secured to an angle-plate K of the snapping-frame. Theangle-block J is provided with a threaded aperture adapted to receive ascrew-rod L therethrough. This screw-rod bears upon a convenient part ofthe main frame A, as indicated in Fig. 7. By this construction thesnapping-frame may be rocked about the axis of shaft G by turning screw-In order to eciently guide the swinging movement of snappingframe D, themain frame A may be provided. with a lplate M, arranged to engage a slotN in angleblock J.

(See Fig. 8.)

At the front end of the snappingframe are pivotally supported thegathering-frames O P, arranged to project forwardly therefrom. The frameO is journaled to rock upon ashaft Q, suitably journaled in the frontend of the snapping-frame, and the gatheringframe P is journaled to rockupon pivot-studsR R, suitably mounted in snapping-frame D. To each ofthe gatheringLframes O P is connected a suitable cord or otherconnection S T, operated in any suitable manner, as from a shaft V,having a crank arm or handle W', and by means of which thegathering-frames may be IOO rocked or swung about their pivots upon thesnapping-frame, so as, to raise and lower the front ends of saidgathering-trames. Each gathering-frame is provided with a hood or coverA', which serves to inclose the gathering devices carried by said framesand to prevent clogging of the same. The gatheringfraines projectforwardly from the front end of the snapping-frame on slightly-diverginglines, and at their extreme forward ends said frames diverge moreacutely, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. Upon the shaft Q, about theaxis of which the gathering-frame O is mounted to rock, is mounted asprocket-gear B', (see Figs. 3 and 6,) which sprocket-gear and acooperating sprocket-gear O' on shaft G are engaged bya belt D', bywhich rotationl is imparted to a bevel-gear E' on shaft Q. This gearengages and drives a gear F', carried by a shaft G'. Upon shaft Gr aremounted the drive-sprock etsI-I' J', through which the upper and lowergathering-chains K' L' are driven. The upper chain K' is engaged oversuitable guidesprockets M' N', so arranged as to cause one leg or run ofthe gathering-chain to extend longitudinally of the gathering-frame Oand to project from the inner side thereof into the space between theframes O and P, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Similarly, upper and lowergatheringchains O' P' are provid ed upon gathering-frame P, said chainsengagingoversuitable guide-sprockets Q' R' and driven from sprockets S'T', carried by a shaft V'. The shaft V' is driven from a shaft NV'through a universal joint, (indicated generally at A2,) as shown in Fig.4L. This universal coupling in the particular form shown comprisescrossarms B2 C2, respectively connected to shafts V' W' and arranged inright-angular relation with respect to each other and each engaging atthe ends thereof with pins or projections of a ring D2, as clearlyshown. By this construction the shaft V' may be readilydriven from shaftW' and at the same time will be permitted swinging movement relativethereto, as in swinging the frame P, about its hinge-joints. The shaftW' is driven through a sprocket-wheel E2, which is engaged by asprocket-chain F2, operating over a sprocketgear driven by shaft G. Thegathering-chains K' L' O' P' are provided with projecting pins or teethG2, which project therefrom and into the space between the frames O Pand serve to engage the stalks of corn as the machine proceeds throughthe field, thereby carrying or delivering the same to the action of thesnapping-rolls, as will presently be more fully explained, and,similarly, the chain F2 is provided With projecting pins or paddles H2,which serve to convey the detached ear from thesnapping-rolls. y

The snapping-rolls E F extend longitudinally of the snapping-frame andare suitably journaled in bearings formed in said frame. These rolls arecorrugated, the corrugations being respectively right and left handed,as clearly shown, and said rolls are driven in Opposite directionsthrough intermeshing gears J2, one of said rolls being positively driventhrough a shaft K2 from shaft G.

It sometimes occursrthat the snapping-rolls fail to effect a detachmentof the ear of corn from the stalk. In order to insure a snapping of theear from the stalk, I provide each of the rolls E F with a rib orprojection L2, the ribs or projections L2 being spirally arranged ontheir respective rolls and of greater pitch than the corrugations ofsaid rolls. As clearly shown in the drawings, these ribs eX- tendlongitudinally of the rolls and in the reverse direction with respect tothe corrugations of said rolls, and the individual ribs are arrangedatsuch an angle that a pair of the ribsv converge toward each other inthe direction of the center of the machine. By this means the ribs notonly insure a detachment of the ears from the stalks, but even after thestalks are broken from the ears grip such stalks tightly and draw themdown between the rolls out of the way, the detached ears in themeantime, being too large to pass through the space between the rolls,either ride along such rolls or jump off at the side onto the conveyer.

It sometimes occurs that a stalk or detached ear becomes lodged at thepoint of entrance into the space between the front ends of thesnapping-rolls, thereby clogging up this entrance and arresting theproper action of the machine. In order to prevent this, I provide awiper L2, suitably pivoted upon a convenient part of the frame adjacentto the front ends of the snapping-rolls. To this Wiper is connected arod The other end of this rod M2 is connected to a pivoted lever .N2,adapted to be rocked by means of a handlever or other suitable device(indicated at O2) arranged to extend into convenient position to bemanipulated by the driver. From this it will be seen that in case astalk or ear of corn should lodge at a point adjacentV to the front endof the snapping-rolls the driver 'may be able to readily free theobstruction by operating the wiper without arresting the operation ofthe machine.

It will be observed and as above explained that the gathering-frames O Pextend forwardly from the front end of the snappingfranie and that saidframes are pivotally mounted independently of each other at the frontend of the snapping-frame. At the extreme front end of saidgathering-frames is provided a shoe p2, adapted when necessary to restupon the ground. Preferably the frames O P are tapering toward theirfront end, and they diverge from eachother slightly during a greater'4portion of their length; but at their lextreme end they are providedwith a wide divergence, so as to provide sufficient space for the readyentrance of the stalks of corn therebetween. It sometimes occurs,andespecially where the corn has been standing in the field for sometime after its maturity, and hence has become brittle, that when thegathering-frames strike the stalk it will break land fall down beforethe gathering-chains can engage it. By pro- IOO IIO

viding the Wide space at the front extremities of the gathering-framesand by the provision of sloping and tapering sides to the frame at thispoint instead ot' the machine breaking and causing the stalks to falldown the stalks will be guided without breaking up to the point in thelength of the gathering-frames where they will be engaged by thegathering-chains, and I arrange the upper gathering-chains O K to extendas near to the front end of the gathering-frames as possible. In theparticular form shown these upper gathering-chains extend to a point inthe length of the gathering-frames where the wide divergence thereof attheir front extremities begins, and hence the danger of breaking downthe stalks of corn by the engagement therewith of the gatheringframes isavoided. By hingiug the gathering-frames at their rear ends said framesmay be set or raised or lowered to accommodate any desired condition ofthe corn. For instance, in cases where the corn has been blown down orbent over toward the ground by the wind, the weight of the ears of corn,or otherwise, then the gathering-frames may be rocked so as to lower theextreme front ends thereof into contact with the ground, and hence whenthe machine proceeds along the row ofbent or blowndown corn each stalkwill be picked up from the ground and sliding up the incline or slopingends of the gathering-frames will be engaged by the gathering-chains,and thereby presented to the action of the snapping-rolls. On the otherhand, where the corn in the iield is in an upright condition, then thefront ends of the gathering-frames may be elevated above the ground, andhence will not be required to incur the danger of having to plow throughthe ground in rough or uneven places.

It will be understood that the gatheringchains carry the stalk into thespace between the front ends of the snapping-rolls. These rolls,rotating constantly and in opposite directions with respect to eachother, quickly feed the stalk through said rolls, and when the ear isreached said ear is detached from the stalk, the detached ear beingdelivered into position to be carried' away by the delivery-chain F2. Inmany cases in a iield of corn the ears are near the top of the stalks,while in many other cases in a field of corn the ear occurs lower downupon the stalks. By hinging the snapping-frame at itsV rear endconcentric with the shaft G and by supporting said frame at its frontendby adjusting screw L it will be readily seen that the snapping-frame maybe adjusted by raising or lowering the same, so as to set thesnapping-rolls at any desired height to suit the particular field orcondition of the corn with reference to the height or the general heightof the ears. Thus where the stalks are tall and the ears occur at aconsiderable height from the ground the front end of the snapping-framemay be raised, so that the stalks will be engaged by the snapping-rollsat au point just below the height ofthe ears. This adjustment relievesthe snapping-rolls of considerable unnecessary wear by their engagementot' the stalk at a point close to the ears, and hence enables themachine to move more easily and smoothly and with less power than if thestalk was engaged at a point nearer to the ground and was required torun through the rolls its entire length before the ear was reached. Onthe other hand, in case of eX- ceedingly-low corn or short stalks, thefront end of the snapping-frame may be lowered. Thus the snapping-framemay be adjusted readily and easily to accommodate different conditionsof length of stalk or height of the corn, and it will be understoodthat, independently of this adjustment of the snappingfram e, thegathering-frames may be tipped or adjusted about their pivots. It willalso be seen that by hinging the snapping-frame at its rear end uponshaft G the weight of the parts supported by this frame is more evenlydistributed, and hence enables the machine to run more easily and with aminimum amount of power.

By theimprovements above set forth I have greatly simplified andimproved the construction of machines of this class, rendering the samemore readily and easily adjusted to meet the conditions and requirementsof different kinds of corn, so as to relieve the machine of unnecessarywear, thereby enabling it to run smoother and with the smallest amountof power, and I have produced by the details above described and setforth an exceedingly-efficient and easily operated and driven machinewhich is thoroughly practical and eiiicient in operation for thepurposes for which it is intended. It is to be un derstood that inoperation the machine is driven through the field of corn longitudinallyof the rows, the gathering-frames extending forwardly or in thedirection of the length of the row and of the travel of the machine, sothat the stalks of corn standing in the row will successively enter thespace therebetween, thereby enabling the gathering-chains to engage thestalks successively and properly present the same to the action of thesnapping-rolls. These rolls feed the stalks therebetween and detach theears therefrom as the machine advances through the field, leaving thestalk standing and delivering the detached ear in any suitable manner,the various working parts of the machine receiving motion from thetraction-wheels C.

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and thevarious details of construction thereof and having described suchconstruction, its purpose, function, and mode of operation, what I claimas new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure byLett-ers Patent of the United States, is-` IOO IIO

1. In a corn-harvesting machine, a main frame, an axle journaled thereinand carry- 4 ing traction-wheels,a snapping-frame,earde taching. devicescarried thereby, said frame being hinged at its rear end upon said mainframe and independently of the axle, means for adjustably supporting thefront end of said snapping-frame, in combination with gathering devicespivotally supported upon such snapping-frame, as and for the purpose setforth.

2. In a corn-harvesting machine, a main frame, an axle journaled thereinand carrying tractionwheels,a snapping-frame,earde taching devicescarried thereby, said snapping-frame being pivotally mounted at its rearend upon said main frame and independently' of said axle, anadjusting-block connected to the front end of said snappingframe, anadjusting-screw for raising and lowering said adjusting-block, incombination with gathering devices pivotally supported upon saidsnapping-frame, as and for` the purpose set forth.

3. In a corn-harvestingmachine, a main frame, an axle journaled thereinand carrying traction-wheels, a snapping-frame,earde taching devicescarried thereby, said frame being pivotally connected at its rear end tosaid main frame and independently of said axle, an adjusting-blockconnected to said snapping-frame at the front end thereof, an adjustingscrew arranged to engage said block, whereby said snapping-frame may beraised and lowered, a guiding-plate connected Ito said main frame andengaging said adjusting-block to guide the same, in combination withgathering devices pivotally supported upon said snapping-frame, as andfor the purpose set forth.

4. In a corn-harvesting machine, a main frame, a traction-wheel mountedtherein, an axle for said wheel, a driving-shaft journaled in said mainframe to the rear of said traction-wheel axle and arranged to be driventherefrom, a snapping-frame journaled upon said driving-shaft andcarrying ear-detaching devices, means for adj ustably supporting saidsnapping-frame at a point in front of said'traction-wheehin combinationwith gathering devices pivotally supported upon said snapping-frame, asand for the purpose set forth.

5. In a corn-harvesting machine, a mainframe, a traction-wheel journaledtherein, an axle for said wheel, a driving-shaft journaled in said mainframe parallel with and to the rear of said traction-wheel axle andarranged to be driven therefrom, a snapping-frame sleeved upon saiddriving-shaft and carrying ear-detaching devices,an adj listing-blockconnected to said snapping-frame at the front end thereof and in advanceof said traction-wheel, an adj usting-screw engaging said block forraising and lowering said frame about its pivotal axis, in combinationwith gathering devices pivotally supported upon said snappingframe, asand for the purpose set forth.

6. In a corn-harvesting machine, a snapping-frame carrying snapping-rolls, said frame being pivotally mounted at its rear end, and meansfor vertically adjusting the front end thereof in combination withgatheringframes pivotally mounted upon horizontal axes at the front endof said snapping-frame, said gathering-frames extending forwardly fromsaid snapping-frame, gathering devices carried by said gathering-frames,connections for said gathering-frames, and means for actuating saidconnections for swinging said gathering-frames about their pivotal axes,as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a corn harvesting machine, a snapping-frame, ear-detaching devicescarried thereby, said frame being pivotally mounted at its rear end, andmeans for vertically adjusting the front end thereof, gathering` framespivotally mounted at their rear ends upon the front end of saidsnapping-frame, said gathering -frames extending forwardly from thefront end of said snapping-frame, and means for rocking saidgathering-frames to raise and lower the front ends thereof, as and forthe purpose set forth.

8. In a corn-harvesting machine, a snappingframe,said frame beingpivotally mounted at its rear end, and means for vertically adjustingthe front end thereof, gatheringframes independently pivoted at theirrear ends upon the front end of said snappingframe, connectionsconnected to each of' said gathering-frames, and an operating-shaft towhich said connections are connected,where by said gathering-frames maybe rocked about their pivots, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a corn-harvesting machine, a snapping-frame,said frame beingpivotally mounted at its rear end, and means for vertically adjustingthe 'front end thereof, gatheringframes pivotally mounted on saidsnappingframe at the front end thereof and extending forwardlytherefrom, said gathering-frames being arranged in parallel relation andslightly diverging from each other throughout the greater portion oftheir length, and widely diverging from each other at their frontextremities, and gathering devices carried by said gathering-frames, andmeans for actuating said gathering devices, as and for the purpose setforth.

IO. In a corn-harvesting machine, a frame, pivotally mounted at the rearend, and means for vertically adjusting the front end thereof,gathering-frames hinged to said first-men- IIO tioned frame at the frontend thereof and exl 1l. In a corn-harvesting machine, pivotallymountedgathering-frames extending in parallel relation, gathering devicescarried by said frames, a drivin g-shaft for the gathering devices ofeach of said frames, one of said shafts forming a pivotal axis for oneof said frames, and a universal joint interposed between thedriving-shaft and the carryingchains of the other of said frames, andmeans for rocking said frames about their pivots, as and for the purposeset forth.

12. In a corn-harvesting machine, the combination with ear detachingdevices, of a Wiper arranged in advance of said ear-detaching devices,and means for actuating said wiper for clearing the throat or entranceto said ear-detachin g devices, as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a corn-harvesting machine, snapping-rolls and means for actuatingthe same, in combination with a wiper arranged at the front end of saidrolls, and means for actuating said wiper, as and for the purpose setforth.

14. In a corn-harvesting machine, the combination of snapping-rollsarranged parallel to each other, said rolls being provided respectivelywith right and left corrugations adapted, when said rolls are rotated inopposite directions, to effect a feeding action upon the stalks of cornbetween such rolls from the receiving toward the delivery ends thereof,

and spiral ribs formed on said rolls, the rib on each roll beingarranged in reverse order with respect to, and of greater pitch than,the corrugations of such roll, the ribs on the respective rolls beingarranged to coperate with each other to form angles with each other whensaid rolls are relatively rotated in opposite directions, the apex ofthe angle formed by those portions of such ribs which are on the uppersurfaces of said rolls being presented toward the delivery ends of saidrolls, as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In acorn-husking machine, spirally-corrugated snapping-rollsarranged parallel to' each other, and means for rotating said rolls inopposite directions, in combination with spiral ribs formed on saidrolls, said ribs cooperating to form angles with each other, the apex ofthe angle formed by those portions of such ribs which are on the uppersurfaces of said rolls being presented toward the de livery ends of saidrolls, as and for the pur-V pose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 23d day ofFebruary, 1900, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

w AUGUST STEIN ER.

Vitnesses:

E. C. SEMPLE, S. E. DARBY.

